In a significant move, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to conduct Class 10 exams twice a year starting in 2026. According to the officials, the first phase of the exam, which will be conducted in February, will be mandatory for Class 10 students, while the second phase exam, scheduled in May, will be optional for students who wish to improve their performance. The internal assessment will be conducted only once during the academic session.
CBSE 2026 Exams to be conducted in two phases
"The first phase will be conducted in February, and the second in May. The results for the two phases will be announced in April and June, respectively," CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said, reported PTI. "It will be mandatory (for students) to appear for the first phase, while the second phase will be optional. Students will be allowed to improve their performance in any three subjects out of science, mathematics, social science and languages," he added.
What did Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan say?
A statement from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has also been issued regarding this development. He said, "Class 10 board exams twice a year will reduce stress, provide more flexibility and promote a joyful learning environment."
What do officials say about winter-bound schools?
According to the approved norms, students of Class 10th from winter-bound schools will get the option to appear for the board exams in any of the phases.
When will CBSE announce the results for Class 10 in 2026?
The results for CBSE Class 10th board exams will be declared in two phases: April and June. The students will have an opportunity to opt for the second phase exam to improve their scores within the same academic year.
Internal assessment once a year
The board will conduct internal assessments for CBSE 2026 only once during the academic session, as per the new CBSE norms for conducting Class 10 board exams twice a year. This change has been introduced to streamline evaluation and reduce redundancy in assessments.
Alignment with NEP
The CBSE's decision aligns with the recommendations from the new National Education Policy (NEP), which seeks to eliminate the 'high stakes'.
Draft norms were out in February
The CBSE announced the draft norms in February, which were put in the public domain for stakeholders' feedback. The new NEP recommended that to eliminate the "high-stakes" aspect of the board exams, all students will be allowed to take the exams on up to two occasions during any given school year.
